Container with combined locking and indicating fastener

Abstract

A container with a combined locking and indicating fastener is provided. A slide fastener ( 16 ), such as a zipper, used to seal the container continues along a strip ( 14 ) projecting from the main body ( 10 ) of the container. The strip ( 14 ) has numerous lock engaging means ( 30 ), such as apertures, and indicia ( 32 ) associated with each lock engaging means ( 30 ). The lock engaging means ( 30 ) and the strip ( 14 ) are dimensioned so that a lock ( 34 ) secured to one of the lock engaging means ( 30 ) prevents the slider ( 17 ) of the slide fastener ( 16 ) from passing the lock ( 34 ). In this way, a lock ( 34 ) may be used to both securely close the container and also to indicate information about the container by means of the position of the lock ( 34 ) relative to the indicia ( 32 ).

1. A container comprising:
 a main body; 
 an opening in the main body through which the interior of the container can be accessed when the container is open; 
 a slide fastener passing along the opening and continuing past the opening along a strip projecting from the main body; 
 a slider on the slide fastener; 
 a plurality of lock engaging means disposed along the strip; and 
 a plurality of indicia, each indicia associated with one of the lock engaging means. 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1  further comprising a pull tab fastened to the slider. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1  wherein the strip lies along a non-opening portion of the main body. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 3  wherein the strip lies adjacent a hinged edge of the container to which a lid of the container is joined. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 1  wherein the strip passes over a surface of the main body. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 1  wherein the strip extends off the main body. 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 1  wherein the indicia are permanently affixed to the container. 
     
     
       8. The container of  claim 1  wherein the indicia are labels within pockets affixed to the container. 
     
     
       9. The container of  claim 8  wherein the labels can only be placed within the pockets when the container is open. 
     
     
       10. The container of  claim 1  wherein the container can store medicine and wherein the plurality of indicia indicate when doses of medicine are to be taken. 
     
     
       11. The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is a routing envelope, and wherein the plurality of indicia indicate destinations of the routing envelope. 
     
     
       12. The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lock fastened to the slider or to a pull tab of the slide fastener. 
     
     
       13. The container of  claim 1  wherein each indicia indicates a description of contents of the container, a department, a person, a status, a time sensitivity, a location, or any combination of a day of the week, a time of day, and a date. 
     
     
       14. A kit comprising the container of  claim 1  and a lock. 
     
     
       15. The kit of  claim 14  wherein the lock has differential marking on opposite edges. 
     
     
       16. The kit of  claim 14  wherein the dimensions of the lock engaging means, the lock, and the strip are such that when the lock is secured to one of the lock engaging means, the slider cannot pass past the lock. 
     
     
       17. The kit of  claim 16  wherein the indicia are labels within pockets affixed to the container, the pockets affixed to the container such that labels can only be placed within the pockets when the container is open.